Beginner’s Guide to Justice

BrennanTakayamaHawai’iJoinedstaffin2007Howdoyouexpressracialjusticeinyourlifestylechoices(i.e.prayer,finances,whereyoulive,etc.)?-Finances:IgivetodifferentministriesthatIfeelreflectmyKingdomvalues(internationalpoverty,localpoverty,POC'sincampusministry,indigenousministries,anti-humantrafficking,sponsorachild,etc).-Simpleliving:IliveincommunityandseektolimitmylifestylesothatIcangivemore.-Prayer:Ipraythroughnewsarticlesandsocialmediaposts.

-Activismandadvocacy:Iactonissueslocally(ie,sign-wavingtoprotestthebuildingofa30-metertelescopeonMaunaKeathatnegativelyaffectsNativeHawaiianculturalpracticesandlandstewardship).Howdoyoustandforracialjusticeinwhatyousayanddo?Ichoosewhentospeakandwhentoremainsilent.Ican'tfighteverybattle,soIneedtoexercisewisdominwhichissuesIchoosetotakeupandwhen.Iamlearningtospeakwithstrength,truth,andgrace.For“beginner”staffwhowanttoexpressthemselvesortakeastandinasimilarway,whatfirststepswouldyouadvise?Takerisksonsocialmedia,butdon'tlimitactiononjusticeissuestothat.Livejusticethroughhowyougive,pray,spendtime,etc.Myprimaryareaofconcernisindigenousissues.AsAsian/Asian-Americansaresettlersonsomeoneelse'sland.It'simportantforustogeteducatedontheissuesaffectingothercommunities,whilenotsilencingourownvoicesandstruggles.

ChristianChinSeattle,WAJoinedstaffin2006Howdoyouexpressracialjusticeinyourlifestylechoices(i.e.prayer,finances,whereyoulive,etc.)?Ihavemovedtoaneighborhoodthatistruetomyvaluestoliveoutracialjustice.TheneighborhoodIliveinisthehistoricblackneighborhoodofSeattleandisatthecenterofissuesofpolicebrutality,gentrification,andracialdisparitiesineducation,housing,andmedicalcare.Ihavebeentryingtogettoknowtheissuesinmyneighborhood:Therewasahatecrimeatalocalchurch.Thereisalocalmarijuanadispensarynearaschool.Thereisconstructiononamainstreetthatisnegativelyaffectinglocalblackbusinesses.Idomybesttospendmoneyatlocalbusinessesthatserveourneighborhoodincludingblack-ownedbusinesseswhohavebeenintheareaformanyyears.Ialsogotoathathaspastorsofvarious

racesandbackgrounds.ThechurchspeaksonracialjusticeandchangesitsSundayservicesduetocurrentincludingissuessurroundingBlackLivesMatter.Thechurchhasanannualclassonfaithandrace.Thispastyear,IhelpedtoleadabreakoutsessioninwhichwediscussedwhatitmeantobeAsianAmericaninourchurch,inourcity,andinournation.Howdoyoustandforracialjusticeinwhatyousayanddo?IalsomentoryoungerAsianAmericanstoliveoutracialjustice.WetalkaboutthetheologicalandpracticalbasisforracialjusticeandtalkabouthowweasAsianAmericanscanactasallies.Also,IspeakupthroughsocialmediaasawaytosetanexampletoothersaboutspeakingoutespeciallytomyAsianAmericanfriendsandcolleagues.For“beginner”staffwhowanttoexpressthemselvesortakeastandinasimilarway,whatfirststepswouldyouadvise?Wehavesomuchinformationatourfingerprints.Sobecomeknowledgeableandlearnasmuchasyoucan.Also,listenatthefeetofotheroppressedgroups.However,itisnottheirresponsibilitiestogiveyousolutions.Youmustbewillingtolistenandthenfiguretherestoutonyourown.Moreover,speaktoyourAsianAmericanfamilies,friends,colleagues,andstudentsabouttheseissues.Evenifyoudon'thavemanyfriendsthatareotherpeopleofcolor,youcanstilltalkwithpeoplewithinyourethniccircles.

BrendaWongHawai’iJoinedstaffin1978Howdoyouexpressracialjusticeinyourlifestylechoices(i.e.prayer,finances,whereyoulive,etc.)?*IchoosetoliveinWaimanalo,apredominantlyHawaiiancommunitysothatIcouldbeasupportandlightinthiscommunity(volunteering,rallies,prayer,relationshipsincludingthehouseless)*IsupportacompassionchildmonthlyandwenttovisitmyfirstcompassionchildinAfrica*IwaspartofanindigenousHawaiianchurchfor14yearssupportingjusticeforHawaiians;IamcurrentlypartofachurchthatseekstoliveoutGod'sheartforjusticeandseektoinfluencemychurchinissuesofracialjustice*ItrytoprayforissuesofjusticeandalsogetprayerrequestsfromIJM*IsupportstaffofcolorinIVCFandsharefinancesfrommyaccount*Iintentionallydiscipleandempowermarginalizedstudentsandstaff*Iworktohelpstudentsthatstrugglewith

povertygettoconferencesbyprovidingscholarshipsHowdoyoustandforracialjusticeinwhatyousayanddo?*Forthepast5yearsI'vebeenpartofaministrythatdoesoutreachtovictimsofsextrafficking*AnnuallyImarchintheMLKparadeforjusticeandmarchwiththeHawaiiancommunity*IpartnerwithMoaniNanod-Sitch’sleadershipbybeingtheadminforHo`olohePonoforthelast12years(encouragingChristianstolistenandservealongsidethenativeHawaiiancommunity)*IstandwithBlackLivesMatter,usingsocialmediatoinfluence*IhavegonetoralliesandprotestsonvariousjusticeissuesintheHawaiianscommunityFor“beginner”staffwhowanttoexpressthemselvesortakeastandinasimilarway,whatfirststepswouldyouadvise?*listenandlearn:whenIfirstarrivedinHawaii,ItooksomeHawaiianstudiesclassesandlistenedandlearnedinthecontextofrelationshipswithHawaiians*beuncomfortable:Iremembervisitingourgospelchoirministryandwhenitwastimestodosolos,Ichoosetoenterinthoughitwasveryuncomfortable;*pray*don'tbeafraidofbeingwrong,buttakeeveryopportunitytolearn*develop"real"relationshipswithotherswhoareindifferentethnicitiesandlearnandserveinthosecommunitie

LinsonDanielDallas,TXJoinedstaffin2009Howdoyouexpressracialjusticeinyourlifestylechoices(i.e.prayer,finances,whereyoulive,etc.)?Iexpressracialjusticethroughfinancialgivingandinmyregularprayertimes.Also,mywifeandIdecidedtopickaschoolforourchildrenthatismoreraciallydiverseinordertopromotecross-culturallearningandfriendships.Also,albeitasmallgesture,IensurethatIlookeveryAfrican-AmericanmaleintheeyeandnodinordertolethimknowthatI"see"him--toshowrespect.Moreoftenthannot,thatgestureisquietlyreturned.Also,Idomybesttobeawareofmicro-aggressionsandbringawarenesstoitspresenceandimpact,althoughIhaveneverbeentoarally.

Howdoyoustandforracialjusticeinwhatyousayanddo?Iwilloccasionallyusemyplatformasaspeaker/preachertoaddressthetopicofracialjustice(especiallyinSouthAsianchurches).IwantSouthAsianImmigrantstoknowthatweneedtostandforracialjustice--asyoumightinfer,thisisadifficultconversation.Also,Iengageinrigorousdialoguewithpeopleinmyimmediatecircleofinfluence(e.g.family,friends,churchmembers,etc.)byaddingthoughts,unearthingassumptions,sharingresources,andcorrectingmisconceptions.Itendnottousesocialmediaforthesekindsofconversations.For“beginner”staffwhowanttoexpressthemselvesortakeastandinasimilarway,whatfirststepswouldyouadvise?Startwithyourfriendsandfamily.Referencecurrenteventsandsolicitfeedbackandthoughts.Thisshouldkickstartimportantandtransformativeconversations.Don'tjudge.Don'tputdownyourfamilyandfriends.Rememberthattheyareontheirownracialjusticejourney.Also,don'ttrytogetitalldoneinoneday.TrustGodthatHewillgiveyouanotherchancetodeepentheconversation.

JenniferHollingsworthDublin,CAJoinedstaffin1997Howdoyouexpressracialjusticeinyourlifestylechoices(i.e.prayer,finances,whereyoulive,etc.)?Prayerlifeandleadershipofprayerforracialjusticeinnon-IVministryleaderscontexts.Ourgivingprioritizesracialjustice.Weliveinthesuburbs,soit'sastruggletofindthespaceswheretheconversationislive.I'vetaughtaclassinmychurch,startedsmallgroupdiscussions,servedonachurchdiversitycommittee.I'mhostinga"BallotandBrew"nighttohelppeoplemakethoughtful/prayerfulchoicesinvoting.I'verecommendedCommunityMappingforourchurchtohelpunderstandtheneedsthataregoingunmetandhowourchurchmightbegintoengage.IamalsoapartofaBayAreaClergyCohorttocontinuelearningandacting.Ireadandaskquestions.Myannualaccountabilitygroupisadiversegroupof

womenwhochoosetalkabouthowwearelivingourlivesforJesusinthisarenaaswell.ItrytotakeeverystretchassignmentIcan.Howdoyoustandforracialjusticeinwhatyousayanddo?Ithinksomeofthisisansweredintheabovequestion.Ilearn,Imakemistakes,Iaskforgiveness,Ichooseintothesespace,Ilearn,Imakemistakes,Iaskforgiveness,Ichoose...For“beginner”staffwhowanttoexpressthemselvesortakeastandinasimilarway,whatfirststepswouldyouadvise?Posture:AgoodfriendremindedmeoncethateveryonehastheirownjourneytofindouridentityinChrist.Hedidn'tmeanthisindividualisticallybuttoremindmethatincommunity,wewon'tallbeinthesameplacebutthatwearetowalktogether.TherearetimeswhereIfeellikeI'mdraggingpeoplealongwithme.IalsoknowthattherearetimeswhenI'vebeencarriedbythefaithfulnessofothers.I'vetrippedpeoplealongthewayandhavestruggledtoaccepttheirgraceratherthangetoffthepathalltogetherforfearofbeinglost.Butit'sthatgraceinpursuitofunitythatIknowinformsthepowersintheheavenlyrealms.Position:Butfornewstaffwhoarejustbeginning;whatgotyouhere,won'tgetyouthere.Youhavetoputyourselfinspacestolearnandlisten.

CarolLeeOakland,CAJoinedstaffin2003Howdoyouexpressracialjusticeinyourlifestylechoices(i.e.prayer,finances,whereyoulive,etc.)?Ibudgetmeticulouslysothatwecangivemoremoneyaway.Assomeonewhogrewupinalow-incomefamily,ithasbeendifficultformyparentstounderstandwhywegivesomuchmoneyaway.Butthishasbeenanongoingpartoftheirgrowthasparentstotrustthattheyraisedmewell.Welookatdivestingfromcorporationsandorganizationsthatsupportunjustsystemslikeprisonlabor,andlookforwaystoreinvestinsmallbusinessesownedbypeopleofcolor.Wetrytodiversifyourgivingbothlocalandglobal,andindifferentareasofleadershipinjusticework.Someofwhatwedoissmallinimpact,buttheyarepartofacommitmenttosubmiteveryareaofourlifetoCreatorGod.Thingslikepayingattentiontowhereourfoodcomesfrom,andeatinglessmeat.Wehopeitencouragesmorepeoplearoundustodothesame.

Itrytostartourorientationsoffveganorvegetarian.It'sactuallyamazinghowmuchmoreattentivestudentsareoncetheyare*ahem*regular.Thenwhenstudentsstarttocookforresidentialprograms,weteachthemhowtomakedelicious,local,vegetarianmeals.Wedoanadventcalendareachyearthatcentersjustice.ItrytoreadandwatchallthatIcantorecommendbooks,podcasts,shows,andmoviesasresourcestoothers.Ithinkwhatweconsumeisincrediblyimportantandshapeshowwelookattheworld.Ibuildrelationshipswithpeopleoutsidemyorganizationwhoaredoingjusticework,andIfindopportunitiesforsharedlearningandpartnership.Howdoyoustandforracialjusticeinwhatyousayanddo?Ithinkofwaystoinfluencethepeoplearoundmeinwaysthatareeasyforthem.Thingslikewatchingatvshowortalkingaboutfoodasentrywaystotalkingaboutracialjustice.Ideveloplearningexperiencesforstudentsandstaffthatengageourpersonalandcollectivehistoriesandcurrentrealitiestocultivatecuriosityandcompassion.ThesecanbeaBiblestudy,aseminar,aconference,oraprogramliketheSFChinatownProgram.Theseprogramsseektobelessup-frontteachingandexpert-centered,andmorestory-tellingandparticipant-centered.SomefindmystyleofleadershipfrustratingbecauseitmeansIdon'tgivethemanswers.Somethingsneedclearanswers.Butmostofthetime,we

needtobegiventheopportunitytopracticesayingwhatwebelieveaboutracialjusticeinourownvoice.Iteachfinancialstewardshipsothatmorepeoplecangaincontroloftheirfinancesandgivewhatrightlybelongstothepoor.Asanintrovertedpersonwholiveswithdepressionandanxiety,andonewhodoesn'tusesocialmediaasapersonalplatform,muchofwhatIsayhappensinthecontextofrelationship.AndwhileIamahighintrovert,Itakethetimetomakeconversationandcreatecommunitiesthatlearntogether,evenifit'snotpartofmyjobdescription.RecentlyI'vebeenworkingoninitiatingcohortsofstaffwhowillwalktogetherandsupportoneanotherintheworkforracialjustice.Ihaveneverhadhighpositionalpower.MostoftheinfluenceIhavecultivatedovertheyearshavecomethroughrelationalinfluence.Thismeansyearsofconsistentlyinvestinginrelationshipswithstaff,students,alumni,localcommunitymembers,andlivinginpublicwithintegrity.SowhatIsayinpublicdoesn'thavemuchsway,butthelife-givingwordsIspeaktomycommunitycarriesintotheirlives,theirwork,theirplatforms.IfindasmanywaysasIcantosupporttheworkofothers,andraisingupyoungvoicesandcreativethinkerswhoseworkwillimpactevenmore.For“beginner”staffwhowanttoexpressthemselvesortakeastandinasimilarway,whatfirststepswouldyouadvise?Read!Watch!Listen!Talktome!IpromiseIwon'tbite.Ifyouwantaworkinglistofresources,askme.Initiatewithpeoplewhoarealreadydoingthiskindofwork.Gettoknowthemandfindwaystosupporttheirwork.Pleasenote

thatthereisoftenanintersectionofactivistworkandqueer-identifyingfolks.Ifthisischallengingforyou,Ithinkthisisahelpfulstartingplaceinlearningtorespectfolksinallthattheyare,seeingtheirImagoDeiandthespiritualauthorityGodhasplacedinthemwhenGodcreatedthem.Readandfindyourheroesofjusticework.Findyourownproximitytotheissuesofracialinjustice.Startfromthere.Readscripturethroughthelensoftheoppressed.StudyorleadtheJusticeD-Cycleswedeveloped.